Package-transfer mechanism



Mar. 13, 1923.

S. R, HOWARD PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Men. '2, 1922 Mar. 1. 3, 1923.

S. R. HOWARD PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Mar. 2, 1922 f egfi, 2422202125 WWW W S. R. HOWARD PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM 5'sheets-sheet Z5 Filed Mar.

Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

MNZTEE TENT: o icE. A

STANLEY R. HOWARD, OF EAST MILTON,

SCALE CORPORATION, LTD., A

PACKAGE-TRANSFER MECHANISM.

Application filed March 2, 1922. Serial No. 540,584.

- machine.

For the purposes of 7 this application, Iv

shall show and describe my invention in its adaptation to a carton closing and sealing machine of the type shown in the patent to IVilliam S. Scales,.N0. 930,090, granted August 31, 1909, although it will be understood that such treatment is purely illustrative and in no way limiting. J

In such machine, the packages are ad vanced singly along the package receiving belt and are automatically set over to the package table ing across said belt. Inasmuch as the place ment of the packages on the belt varies dur ing the run of the machine, it is of the ut- -most importance that the pusher shall operate in such manner as to avoid all possibility of jamming the packages.

To this end therefore, I have devised my present invention. According to my invention, the pusher moves inwardly at each stroke bf the machine, and if a package is correctly positioned on the belt for setover to the package table of the machine, the pusher will, as it commences its return stroke, bring a latch releaser, which is mounted thereon, against the corner of the package, The contact of the releaser with the package will remove the pusher latch, permitting the pusher to first withdraw the full limit of its return stroke to clear the belt, so that said packagemay advance to a position-in front of the pushing face of the pusher, and to subsequently advance to transfer saidpackage, from the belt to the table. IVhen there is no package correctly positioned table, treats the full distance of its travel upon the return stroke of the machine. When so latched, the pusher lies across the belt as a stop effective to prevent the-packages folsubsequently advance to set over said by a package pusher operaton the belt for set-over to the the pusher is latched before -it re-' lowing along on the belt from becoming jammed in the space beyond'the pusher.

This action is MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR ro PNEUMATIC oonrona'rron or MASSACHUSETTS.

entirely automatic and is characterized by several important factors;

viz, the pusher always moves inwardly at each operative stroke of themachine to set over a package; if'a package is correctly po- 3 sitioned onthe belt for set-over, the pusher, I

as it starts its return movement carries the latch releaser against said package and the releaser s actuated, removing the pusher latch and permitting the pusher to be first;

retracted completely from the belt and to g on the belt for set-over,

ack-j if no package is correctly positioned the pusher is latched against full retraction and liesacross the belt as a, package stop;

leaser is so mounted on" the pusher that should a package be incorrectly."positioned on the belt, as where such tipped over, said such package and operate, the tipped-oven package simply floating past "the pusher without being jammed thereby, as would occurif thepusher operated.'- Y

package has'been' releaser, will not. contacthencethep-usher will not 1 8o and the latch re- The construction" and operation of my present invention is described and illustrated in the accomp-anylng specification and drawings, and the characteristic featuresof novelty are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Throughout the specifica tion and drawings like referencecharacters are correspondingly employed, andfin the drawings Fig. 1 is a side a carton closing and sealing machine with my invention as is necessary to illustrate the combination and relation of parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof showingth pusher in latched position.

Figs. 3 and 3 are fragmentary views illustrati'ngthe packagepusher and itsiactuating mechanism, Fig. 3 showing the pusher moved inwardly rectly positioned on the belt.

Fig. 4 is a partial detail view of the latch mechanism. v i

I Figs. 5 and 5 are diagrams showing the pusher latched and the corresponding position of the pusher actuating mechanism.

to set over a package cor-' elevation of so" much'i of Figs. 6 and 6 show the position of said" Figs. 7 and 7 show the position of said parts when the pusher has been fully retracted and a package has fed forwardly into line with the pushing face of the pusher.

Figs. 8 and 8 show the position of said parts when the pusher has been advanced to set over the package.

Fig. 9 shows the pusher latched upon its return from the position of Fig. 8 and Fig. 9"' is a diagram showing the phases of the pusher actuating cam at which no positive actuation will be imparted to the pusher when there is no package correctly positioned on the belt for set-over.

While the principles of my invention are applicable to a variety of uses, for purposes of disclosure herein I shall discuss my invention in its adaptation to a carton closing and sealing machine of standard type.

I have accordingly indicated at l the package receiving belt of a carton closing and sealing machine such as is illustrated in the Scales patent, at 2 the reciprocable package pusher which, at each forward stroke of the machine moyes inwardly across the belt to transfer the foremost package P, if said package is correctly positioned from the belt 1 to the package table of the machine in position to be carried through the sealing mechanism by the feed fingers of the package carrier after its side flaps have been spread open by the spreader fingers of the machine, and at 3 a fixed stop disposed across the belt 1 in rear of the package pusher and against which the packages successively abut when they pass the position of the retracted package pusher, whereby each package is accurately centered relative to the pushing face 2 of the pusher for setover by the pusher when it again advances.

The package pusher 2 has a stop face 2 extending at right angles to the pushing face 2 and constituting a guard adapted to lie across the belt and hold back packages followingalong on the belt behind the package which is being removed from the belt by the pushing face 2 of the pusher.

The package pusher 2 is mounted upon a transversely reciprocable slide bar 4 which is actuated from a cam 5 on the cam shaft 6 of'the machine through a cam lever 7 pivoted between its ends at 8 and provided at one end with a roll 9 coacting with the cam 6. The cam 6 is a closed cam and imparts a positive throw to the lever 8 at each revolution thereof. The throw of the lever 7 is transmitted to the pusher by a rod 10 which is connected at its rear end at 11 to the lever 7 and at its forward end to a bell crank lever 12 operatively connected to the outer end of the pusher slide bar 4.

The connecting rod 10 works against the action of a coilspring 13 which is fastened thereto at one end and at its other end is anchored at 14C to the machine frame. The spring 13 assists the cam 6 to positit'ely retract the connecting rod and with it the slide bar at after each forward stroke thereof.

The slide bar a is guided in a guide 15 fixed to the frame F of the machine. Fast to said guide 15 is a bracket 16 having in its horizontal face a beveled notch 17 in which is disposed the correspondingly beveled end of the pusher latch 18. The latch 18 is mounted on a rock shaft 19 journaled, in suitable bearings 20 mounted on the stop face 2 of the pusher, and provided with a latch. release lever 21 which extends past said stop face through a slot 22 therein for contact by a package P correctly positioned on the belt 1. Coiled about the rock shaft 19 is a coil spring 23 the normal tendency of 17, Fig. 6, permitting the pusher to be retracted the full distance of its return motion by the cam 6 and spring 13 on the return stroke of the machine. Fig. 7. As the pusherwithdraws, said package feeds forwardly along the belt until stopped by the fixed stop 3 in which position the package is disposed in front of the pushing face 2' of the pusher for set over thereby upon the next advance of the pusher, Fig. 8. As soon as the latch releasing lever 21 is clear of the package, the spring rocks the shaft 19 in the opposite direction to carry th latch finger 18 back into the notch 17 and to again project the lever 21 through the slot 22 of the stop face 2 of the pusher. See Fig. 9.

hen the pusher moves inwardly to set over the package now disposed in front of the pushing face 2 of the pusher, the stop face 2 again lies across the belt to stop a package following along on the belt. As the pusher again starts to return, the contact of the latchreleaser 21 with such following package will again withdraw the latch 18 from the notch 17 so that the pusher will again return th'e'full distance of its stroke. This is the normal operation of the machine when the packages are properly placed in the belt for transfer to the package table of the machine.

lV-hen, however, no package is correctly positioned upon the-belt for set-over. the latch mechanism remains latched and the pusher is hel'd'against full retraction, Fig.

9. The pusher therefore lies across the belt with its stop face 2 in position to hold back the packages on the belt.-

The latch releaser pusher face 2* sufficiently above the belt to permit a package incorrectly positioned on the belt, as where the package has been tipped over, contacting said releaser. and causing the pusher to advance and jam said package. The incorrectly positioned package simply floats past the pusher and is afterwards removed from the belt by the operative.

Various modifications in the construction and operation of my device may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a way along which articles are adapted to travel, an article pusher movable across said way to remove therefrom an article disposed in front of said pusher, means for intermittently advancing said pusher, means mally effective to fully retract said pusher after each advance thereof, and an automatic latch mechanism for said pusher automatically applied when no article is correctly positioned on'said way for removal therefrom by said pusher whereby to prevent full retraction of the pusher, and automatically removed positioned on said way whereby to permit full retraction of the pusher and subsequent advance of said article to a position in front of said pusher wherein it will be removed from the way upon the next advance of the pusher. V

2. In combination with away along which articles'are adapted to travel, an article pusher movable across said way to remove therefrom an article disposed in front of said pusher. means for intermittently advancing said pusher. means normally effective to fully retract said pusher after each.

advance thereof. a latch mechanism for said pusher automatically applied when no article is correctly positioned on said way,fo-r removal therefrom by the pusher whereby to prevent full retraction of the pusher. and automatically removed when an article is correctly positioned on said way whereby to permit full retraction of the pusher and advance of the article to a position in front of said pusher wherein it will be removed from said way upon the next advance of the pusher, and a latch releaser mounted for contact with an article correctly positioned on said way as the pusher commences its return stroke and effective upon such contact to removesaid latch.

23. In combination with a way along which articles are adapted to travel. an article 21 is mounted on the' to pass therebeneath without ,removal when an article is correctly pusher movable across said way to remove therefrom an article disposed in front of said pusher. means for intermittently advancing said pusher, means normally effec-' tive to fully retract said pusherafter each advance thereof, alatch mechanism for said pusher automatically applied when no article is correctly positioned on said way for therefrom by the pusher whereby to prevent full retraction of the pusher and automatically removed when an article is correctly positioned on said way whereby to full retraction of the pusher and permit subsequent advance of the article to a position in front of said pusher wherein it will be removedfrom' said way upon the next advance of the pusher, and a latch relea'ser mounted on said pusher for contact with an article correctly positioned on said way as the pusher commences its return stroke and effective upon such contact to remove said latch, saidlatch releaser so mounted upon said pusher as not to contact an ar-.

ticle incorrectly positioned on said way.

4. In combination with a wayalong which articles are adapted to travel, an article pusher movable across said way. means for intermittently advancing said pusher, means normally effective to fully retract said pusher after each advance thereof, and means for preventing full retraction of the pusher when no article is correctly positioned on said way for removal therefrom by said pusher. v

5. In combination with a way along which articles are adapted to travel. an article pusher movable relative to said way, means for intermittently advancing and retracting said pusher. and a'latch mechanism for said pusher automatically released when an article is correctly positioned on said article way whereby to permit fullretraction of said pusher. and automatically applied to,

prevent such full retraction when no article moval therefrom by said pusher. H 6. In combination with away along which articles are adapted to travel, an article pusher movable intermittently across said way. means for intermittently advancing and retracting said pusher, a normally ap-- is correctly positioned on said way for re-' pusher movable across said way, means for intermittently advancing and retracting said pusher, a normally applied latch for said pusher effective when applied to prevent full retraction of said pusher and when removed to permit such full retraction, and a latch releaser mounted on said pusher and actuated by contact with an article correctly positioned on said way to remove said latch.

9. In combination with a way along which packages are adapted to travel, a package pusher movable across said way, means for intermittently advancing and retracting said pusher. a normally applied pusher latch, and a latch releaser actuated by contact with a package correctly positioned on said way to remove said latch.

10. Inccombination with a way along which packages are adapted to travel, a package pusher movable across said way, means for intermittenty advancing and retracting said pusher, a pusher latch, a spring normally maintaining said latch applied, and a latch releaser carried by the pusher and actuated by contact with a package correctly positioned on said way to remove said latch.

11. In combination with a- Way along which packages are, adapted to travel, a package pusher movable across said way. means forintermittently advancing and retracting said pusher, a' rock shaft, a normally applied pusher latch thereon, and a latch releaser on said shaft actuated by con tact with a package correctly positioned on said way to remove said latch.

12. In combination with a way along which packages are adapted to travel, a package pusher movable across said way, means for intermittently advancing andretracting said pusher, a rock shaft mounted on said pusher. a pusher latch on said rock shaft, a spring normally maintaining said latch applied. and a latch releaser on said shaftdi-sposed beyond said pusher for actuation by contact with a correctly positioned acka e on said wa to remove said latch.

13. In combination with a way along which articles are adapted to travel, an

article pusher movable transversely of said way for successively removing articles there from, means for advancing said pusher, means normally effective to retract said pusher, and a normally applied latching mechanism for said pusher effective to prevent full retraction of said pusher when no article is correctly positioned-on the way for removal by the pusher,- and releasable by the actuation of an article correctly positioned on said way to permit full retraction of the pusher.

14;. In combination with a package way along which packages are adapted to travel,

an article pusher having a package stop face disposed across said way and a package pushing face effective to remove a package disposed 1n front of said pusher, meansv for advancing and retracting said pusher, a

latch mechanism for said pusher-auton'iatically applied and removed at each advance of said pusher and effective when applied to prevent full retraction of the pusher, and a latch releaser disposed beyond said stop face of the pusher for contact with a package correctly positioned on said way and effective upon actuation to remove said latch and permit the pusher to be fully retracted so that said package" may advance to a position in front of the pushing face of the C pusher for transfer thereby upon the next advance of the pusher.

15. In combination with a package way along which packages are adapted to travel, a package pusher having a stop face normally disposed across said way to prevent packages from advancing therealong, means for advancing said pusher, means normally efi'ective to fully retract said pusher whereby topermit a package to advance into a position in front of said pusher for transfer thereby upon the next advance of the pusher, a normally applied latch mechanism effective to prevent full retraction of the pusher, and a latch releaser disposed beyond the stop face of the pusher for contact witha package correctly positioned on said way whereby to remove said latch and permit full retra ction of the pusher.

- 16. In combination with a way along which packages are adapted to travel, a package pusher having a pushing face disposed substantiall parallel to'said way and a package stop .ace disposed at substantially right angles thereto, means for intermi-ttently advancing said pusher across said way, means normally effective to fully retract said pusher whereby to clear the package stop face thereof from the way and permit a package on said way toadvance to a position in front of the pushing face of the retracted pusher, a normally applied latch mechanism effective to prevent full retraction of the pusher, and a latch releaser operatively connected with said latch mechanism and disposed past the stop face of said pusher for contact with a package correctly positioned on the package way and effective upon such contact to move said latch and permit full retraction of the pusher.

a package stop face disposed at substantially right angles thereto. means for intermittently advancing said pusher across said way, means normally eflectlre to retract said? pusher whereby to clear the package stop t'acethereof from the way and permit a package on said way to advance to a position in front of the pushing face of the retracted pusher, a latch mechanism for said pusher comprising, a guide for said pusher having a locking notch, a rock shaft having a latch lever thereon disposable ithin said notch, a spring normally urging said lever into said notch to lock the pushercagalnst full retraction, and a latch releaser fast on said rock shaftand disposed past the stop face of said pusher for contact with a package correctly positioned on the package way and effective upon such contact to rock said shaft and withdraw the latch from said locking, notch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STANLEY R. HOWARD.

- itnessesz 7 CHARLES H. HOBBS, WM. S. CLEAvEs, 

